Preparation for the 2014 Harbour Carnival is well underway, and the main beneficiary of this year’s event has been announced as the Guernsey Sports Commission (GSC). Organised by the Round Table and sponsored by RBC Wealth Management, the Harbour Carnival will take place on 29 August 2014. As the main beneficiary, the GSC plans to dedicate most of the donated funds to their Street Sports programme, which offers 11-18 year olds the chance to try out a range of sports for free, in the evenings, at a number of locations across the Island. Shirley Ann Parker, Street Sports Leader and Coordinator said: ‘We’re beyond thrilled that the Guernsey Sports Commission will be the main benefactor of this year’s Harbour Carnival. We’ve been running this key community programme since 2010 and last year alone, over 350 young people attended Street Sports sessions at St Martin’s Primary School, Les Genats Estate and the Youth Commission at Les Ozouets. Young people had the opportunity to play a range of sports including cricket, basketball, dodgeball, badminton, rounders, volleyball, hockey and football.’ ‘These funds will mean we can continue delivering three two-hour sessions 50 weeks of the year, and ensure our team of sports leaders and volunteers are equipped with the right training and resources to encourage young islanders in physical activity.’ Du Preez Vermeulen, from the Guernsey Round Table said: ‘We chose the Guernsey Sports Commission for a number of reasons, not least the fact the funds will benefit children on the Island. They also have an enthusiastic group of volunteers to help us in the run up to and during Harbour Carnival itself, and, most importantly, we loved the community values of the Street Sports programme..’ Lisa Barnett, from RBC Wealth Management said: ‘This is our seventh year supporting the Harbour Carnival and we’re really pleased the GSC is going to benefit from the event. Encouraging children to stay active can have far-reaching impacts on their livelihoods. With the help and generosity of Islanders we raised a record £28,000 last year, and I hope we can raise an equally sizeable sum to help support the GSC as well as other charities on the Island.’ As the main beneficiary, the GSC will receive 50% of the funds raised, with the remaining 50% going to a range of other local causes supported by the Guernsey Round Table during the year.